ETBU Debate Team Takes 3rd Place at Tournament

MARSHALL, Texas (2/18/13)- The East Texas Baptist University debate team competed at the Henderson State University "Reddie 2 Rumble” debate tournament February 16-17 and returned with a 3rd place sweepstakes finish. The squad finished ahead of a number of larger universities including the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, and Oral Roberts University.

The team had a number of individual successes in addition to the team win. Six of the team’s nine competitors advanced through the six preliminary rounds to elimination portion of the competition.

In the Novice Division, freshman Austin Miller of Baytown, and sophomore Amanda Oswalt of Grand Prairie advanced to the round of the top 16 competitors. Both were competing in their first collegiate debate tournament. Other novice competitors sophomore Kenny Adcock of Joshua and sophomore Payton Beggs of Wichita Falls advanced through their first elimination rounds. Adcock finished the tournament as a quarterfinalist and Beggs advanced to the semifinals before facing elimination. Beggs also won the 5th place speaker award in the Novice Division.

Senior Heather DeVille of Tyler, competing in the Varsity Division, compiled a 5-1 preliminary record and advanced to elimination rounds. She won her quarterfinal round and finished the tournament as a semifinalist.

In the Professional Division, ETBU coach Dr. Cole Franklin went undefeated in the six preliminary rounds and was the top-seeded professional competitor going into elimination rounds. He also finished the tournament as a semifinalist.

Other ETBU debaters competing at the tournament included senior Tania Albuja of Quito, Ecuador and junior Ryan Stokes of Nacogdoches in the Novice Division and freshman Dakota Hiltzman of Gladewater in the Varsity Division.

"I’m very proud of our team and their success at this tournament” said Dr. Franklin. "I’m especially happy for our new members competing in their first tournament and experiencing this level of success.”

The ETBU squad will divide its efforts for the next two competitions scheduled for February 23-24. Five members of the squad will travel to Corvallis, Oregon to compete in the Oregon State University debate tournament while the remainder of the team will compete at the Bossier Parish Community College tournament.